TRAIL GhI hLIGhTS The CANOL TRAIL BACKGROUND€¦ · vehicles and aircraft used in the construction...
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CANOL, short for Canadian Oil, was a project funded by the American military to build a pipeline from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories to Whitehorse, Yukon during World War II as the result of a possible Japanese attack on Alaska in 1942. The pipeline was required to provide oil for machinery, vehicles and aircraft used in the construction of the Alaska Highway and to meet the demands of the U.S. and Canadian Troops in the far north that required a steady supply of oil. Over 20,000 men and women were employed during the construction of the pipeline and the project took less than two years to complete. To speed up completion of the road and pipeline, construction proceeded from Camp CANOL going west across the Mackenzie River from Norman Wells, and from Whitehorse moving east. The roadway was joined in the vicinity of the Yukon/Northwest territory border in the winter of 1943. The CANOL pipeline and road were abandoned less than one year after completion in 1944 as the war had ended and the pipeline was no longer required. The expenses mounted from the frequent repairs and maintenance of the pipeline along with the high cost of refined oil production in Whitehorse. What remains is a relatively intact roadbed and remnants of vehicles and buildings used during the Canol Project. Some bridge structures were left intact, but most were destroyed by rushing water. The CANOL trail is a 355km (222 mile) trail running from Norman Wells, NWT through the Mackenzie Mountains to the Yukon Territory border. It is considered one of the most challenging trails due to its length, remoteness, and many river crossings. THE CANOL TRAIL BACKGROUND NORMAN WELLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SARAH COLBECK | T. (867) 587-2415 or (867) 587-2469 | [email protected] Ad posted for prospective CANOL workers to warn of the harsh conditions of working in the North. Living quarters consisted of log cabins and Quonset huts that the crews were responsible for constructing. Many of the building structures are still standing. The four inch (10cm) pipe used was too small and it was placed directly on the uneven ground. During freeze and thaw cycles, the pipe often fractured. The pipeline carried very little oil at a great expense. After the war it was abandoned. First Nation’s people helped to navigate through the Mackenzie Mountains. Experienced aboriginal hunters were hired to lead surveyors across the land from Norman Wells into the Yukon. A now obsolete mode of transportation used to move equipment was a Cat train. A Caterpillar tractor is used to pull flat bed sleighs and cabooses. Capable of moving up to 50,000 tons of supplies and complete buildings, crews were able to transport all the equipment needed to create roads, camps and haul the pipe needed for the project. MILE 8: Most of Camp CANOL was bulldozed to the ground in 1977. A few derelict Quonset huts remain. The old post office that has been used recently for stabling horses still stands. EMERGENCY SHELTER MILE 22: The government built an emergency tent shelter at Twenty- five Mile Creek, but bears and weather have opened it to the 4 winds. MILE 36: (Cover) One of the most commonly visited sites, one of the only remaining pumphouse structures. MILE 42-43: Partially submerged caboose in creek bed. Two cabooses and a trailer [are] in line on the road. PUMP STATION # 4. MILE 108: Many buildings and vehicles remain. One Quonset hut in good condition with stove, table, {some} cots. The road at camp 108 is used as a short, narrow airstrip. MILE # 170: PUMP STATION #5: Pump house, Quonsets, tanks and vehicle hulks. One building partially preserved…doors and windows gone. MILE 217: Road camp with ruined shacks and abandoned vehicles. This is where the North and South sections of the road met on December 31, 1943. TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS PWNHC / N-1979-063-0195 PWNHC / N-1979-063-0152 CANOE NORTH ADVENTURES PWNHC / N-1979-063-0095 PWNHC / N-1979-063-0166 GEROLD SIGOL / NWT TOURISM GEROLD SIGOL / NWT TOURISM PWNHC / N-1979-063-0146 MARK PATRICK CANOE NORTH ADVENTURES
Transcript of TRAIL GhI hLIGhTS The CANOL TRAIL BACKGROUND€¦ · vehicles and aircraft used in the construction...
CANOL, short for Canadian Oil, was a project funded by the American military to build a pipeline from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories to Whitehorse, Yukon during World War II as the result of a possible Japanese attack on Alaska in 1942.
The pipeline was required to provide oil for machinery, vehicles and aircraft used in the construction of the Alaska Highway and to meet the demands of the U.S. and Canadian Troops in the far north that required a steady supply of oil. Over 20,000 men and women were employed during the construction of the pipeline and the project took less than two years to complete.
To speed up completion of the road and pipeline, construction proceeded from Camp CANOL going west across the Mackenzie River from Norman Wells, and from Whitehorse moving east. The roadway was joined in the vicinity of the Yukon/Northwest territory border in the winter of 1943.
The CANOL pipeline and road were abandoned less than one year after completion in 1944 as the war had ended and the pipeline was no longer required. The expenses mounted from the frequent repairs and maintenance of the pipeline along with the high cost of refined oil production in Whitehorse.
What remains is a relatively intact roadbed and remnants of vehicles and buildings used during the Canol Project. Some bridge structures were left intact, but most were destroyed by rushing water.
The CANOL trail is a 355km (222 mile) trail running from Norman Wells, NWT through the Mackenzie Mountains to the Yukon Territory border. It is considered one of the most challenging trails due to its length, remoteness, and many river crossings.
The CANOL TRAIL BACKGROUND
NormaN Wells Historical society | saraH colBecK | t. (867) 587-2415 or (867) 587-2469 | [email protected]
Ad posted for prospective CANOL workers to warn of the harsh conditions of working in the North.
Living quarters consisted of log cabins and Quonset huts that the crews were responsible for constructing. Many of the building structures are still standing.
The four inch (10cm) pipe used was too small and it was placed directly on the uneven ground. During freeze and thaw cycles, the pipe often fractured. The pipeline carried very little oil at a great expense. After the war it was abandoned.
First Nation’s people helped to navigate through the Mackenzie Mountains. Experienced aboriginal hunters were hired to lead surveyors across the land from Norman Wells into the Yukon.
A now obsolete mode of transportation used to move equipment was a Cat train. A Caterpillar tractor is used to pull flat bed sleighs and cabooses. Capable of moving up to 50,000 tons of supplies and complete buildings, crews were able to transport all the equipment needed to create roads, camps and haul the pipe needed for the project.
MILe 8: Most of Camp CANOL was bulldozed to the ground in 1977. A few derelict Quonset huts remain. The old post office that has been used recently for stabling horses still stands.
eMeRGeNCy SheLTeR MILe 22: The government built an emergency tent shelter at Twenty-five Mile Creek, but bears and weather have opened it to the 4 winds.
MILe 36: (Cover) One of the most commonly visited sites, one of the only remaining pumphouse structures.
MILe 42-43: Partially submerged caboose in creek bed. Two cabooses and a trailer [are] in line on the road.
PUMP STATION # 4. MILe 108: Many buildings and vehicles remain. One Quonset hut in good condition with stove, table, {some} cots. The road at camp 108 is used as a short, narrow airstrip.
MILe # 170: PUMP STATION #5: Pump house, Quonsets, tanks and vehicle hulks. One building partially preserved…doors and windows gone.
MILe 217: Road camp with ruined shacks and abandoned vehicles. This is where the North and South sections of the road met on December 31, 1943.
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NormaN Wells Historical society | saraH colBecK | t. (867) 587-2415 or (867) 587-2469 | [email protected]
